Pressure regulator



Jan. 2,I 19455.` A. BoYNTcN PRESSURE REGULATOR Filed sept. 13, 1-941 3 Sheets-Sheet l ALEXANDER EY/VTO PREssURE EGULATOR Filed Sept. 13, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 44 i Y 6. mfm ATTORNEYS.

Jan. 2, 1945. A. BOYNTON PRESSUREVREGULATOR Filed Sept. 15, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Swarm/whom,

ALEXANDER BoYNTo/v,

` commonly employed in such devices. s

Another object is to provide aregulator adaptf` stant predetermined reduced pressure Patented Jan.` 2, c c .l

VAlexander Boynton, San Antonio, Tex.;`Sida S. Martin, executrix of "said Alexander Boynton,`

deceased i s `Appli-[anionseptenfilui 1 3, 1'941, seriai No. 410,782

partment having no communication with.` either the intakeordisoharge iiuid. r

Another object is'to` govern the pressure reduction by means ofa piston which will `be more durable in servicethan diaphragms which are ed to an unusuallygreat range oi pressures. s

A still further Objectis to accomplish; a conregardless of temperaturevariations. i i

In accomplishing the foregoing objects"`1"`em`j ploy a piston within` a-cylinder, the piston being in contact with the regulated low pressure at one end and with an isolated supply of pressureluid vat the other end, said isolated pressure fluid be-` ing variable to coi-act with the piston and low pressure in reducing the high pressure toapprox.- ima-tely equal vthat of the `isolated `pressure-.the

` Ynow of pressure fluid throughthe regulator being controlled by a valve operated by the piston, .all of which will more fully appear from the follo'w-y ing specification and accompanying drawings, in which `1 s Fig; 1 is a, longitudinal section throughthepre# ferred embodiment.

` Fig. 2 is an outside view ofthe regulator shown in Fig. 1 rotated 90 degrees from right toleft.4 Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 3 3, Fg. l.

. y Fig. 4 is a cross section on the line 4`-4,fFig.' 1.

Fig. 5 is a crosssectionon the line5.5, Fig.; 6;.

Fig.` 6 is a-longitudinal section througha modied construction. y. l l u A Fig. '7 is a cross section on` the line I-'I Fig. 1.

, Fig. 8 isa partial longitudinal section through another modied construction, the unshown por tion of the construction in Fig. 8 Ibeing the` same as in Fig.` 6 abovefthe section line IVe-JI'.` Fig. 9 isa viewsimilar to Fig. 1 Combiningguie pressure equalizer of Fig. l `with the structure disclosed in Fig.`8.

`Referring to Fig. 1, th outer shell `or body l' c has connection with the high pressure intake` line `I8 and with the low pressure discharge line I9.

Communication between the passages Ih and` I7'` iscontrolled by the valve I3.`

The` inner shell I e has an which the cylinder` 4 is hermeticallyseated by. being screwed tightly into the shell.Y

annular'seat ld upon Thepiston 2 which `is glidabie witninthe axial bore 4a of the cylinder` 4" is surroundedby the i U cups 5" having within them the expander rings 1.` The upper .pair of cupsface upward arid the lower pair face downward, thepairs `'being separated bythe spacer` ring 6. The retainer ring 8 through which the piston2 is slidable closes the upper end of the annular recess housing the U cups, their expander'v rings, and spacer rinegwithr `in the cylinder 4.

The cup retainer `9, having `threaded engagel ment within the innen` shell Ic below the inner chamber I f, houses theVU cups I0 having within o them the expanderrings I2. The upper pair oi these cups faceupward and the lowerpair face downward.` `.The spacer ring II separatesthese lpairs of cups which are secured in place by the ring 124 threadedly engaged within the cup` retainer ,9. The .valve carrier rod 2a .is closely re`- r ceived axially through the piston 2 and has an upward extension=2b and an annular shoulder engaged upon the seat 2cof the piston by force i ofthe gland nut-2f engaginguponthe gland ring :2e and compressingthe packing 2d toprevent' leakage betweenthe piston2 and the rod 2a., Thisrod extendsdownward through the cup re-` tainer 9, the cups AIll, the ringZ; and to within i the tubular extension Ig of the outer shellpl. Within the latter extension, `the liner II is pressed and has lateral` openings` registering with the passages" Ih and Ifs, `This liner, which may be of a fine grained `metal such as Monel, has a polished 4inner surface `upon which the valve I3` is in thenarrowerrecess for the ring I4. A

The valve I3 has a` atouter surface I3afrom `which the longitudinal tongue` I3b extends and isfslidable `,within the internal longitudinal slot Ila of` theliner I'I'(seeiFig. `'7) to restrain the valvef I3 from rotation upon the `rod 2a and thus maintain the valve in proper position to close the passage I7' as will `be explained under Operation. The packing housing 20 which may be pressed `into the extension Ig` and landedupon the liner i I'I, contains `the packing 2I` and `the gland; 22 Awhich compressesthis `packing by forceof the sleeve 23 having'threaded engagement within between the discharge passage Iy' and the upper' end of the piston 2. 'Ihe isolated chamber Ib has communication with the inner chamber I] via the ports Ie (see Fig. 4).

The pressure equalizing cylinder 25 which is secured upon an upwardly extending bossy I'r'n of the shell I slidably receives the equalizing pis-t ton 25 having the lower extension 2l around which the U cups 28 and the' spacer rings 2'9 are held in place by the cup retainer ring 30 secured upon said extension. The isolated chamber Ib' and the auxiliary chamber 25h have communica-'- tion through the opening Ik. p

The T 35 has connection with the shell I, the nipple 36and) the needle valve 38, thereby pla'c ing the chamber Ib in communication ,with the needle valve and the pressuregauge 31 secured upon the nipple 36. y

The bail-34 supports the weight bucket 33 and is slidable in the opposed s1ot`s25a of the pressure again; thereby opening the valve far enough to maintain a constant pressure within the discharge line approximately equal tothat within the chamber Ib.

The valve carrier rod 2a being of much smaller diameter than that of the piston and having its lower end exposed to atmospheric pressure lin the axial opening 23a, it is apparent that the upper end ofthe piston 2 will be of somewhat greater eiective area than the lower end. Consequently,

, the pressure within the chamber Ib should be -piston is determined by the engagement of the ring 30 upon the boss Im 'andthe uppermost pps t sition of this pistonislimited'bythe plug 3| sea cured in the cylinder 25 lo'y'the screws 32';

The force which the weight ybut-,kat.33' exerts upon the piston 26 maybe adjusted'by varying the value of theweig'ht 33a within vthe buket.

Pressure fluid ofa value somewhat greater tliah' that which it is desited te maintain iii the low pressuredischarge line I9 is placed in the isolated chamber Ib. 'I'his may be done through the nipple 39; th valve 38 serving t ori'e ySuch fluid.

The weight ssa wiii te ei'siieh ferte a's te eaiise the piston ze te balance with and neat upen the iii'iid ee'nnned 'within the champel# it. iwsrniafiitthe distance between the cup retainer ring 30 and the boss Im belowthe 'piston is approximately equal to the distance' between 'the upper ehdf the piston and the plug' 3| meer that this pls-.1V

ton may-travel upward or downward in lresponse te expansion and @attractie-nef 'the miie within the chamber Ih and thereby l'intain a costant pressure within that chamber.

Operation, Fig. 1

Hignpressure iiuid withiiitiie line-la and the passage Ih passes 'under the valve I3 and linto the VdischargeA passage 'I7'. A-prtion ofthis' huid enters the chamber I 'and'chtacts the up'p'e end ef the p i'st'on 2. As soon as vthis 'pressure slightly exceeds the value 'of' that 'confined within the isoiated chamber It and contacting the lower end ef the piston tite 'ports le, the eh'arnte'r if',` and the bere 4t, thepisten `win be Vforced downward and will close the 'valve I3.

`When the pressure within the discharge line I9 diminishes slightly below that withinA the 'chamber Ib, the piston will forced upward proportionately greater than that to be maintainedy within the discharge line I9.

The sideclearance I6 between the rod 2a and the valve .I3 andthe slight end clearance which the valve haswith the snap rings I 4 and I5 afford freedom for the valve to close the passage I y by o'rc of the 'high pressure within the passage Ih. whenthe valve is in its lowermost position, that Vbeing when'the piston 2 is engaged upon the cup retainer 9.

Two of the U- cups 5 and I face in opposite direction from the others, so that pressure uid may" not vescape from o'r intrude into the isolated chamber Ib due to 'leakage around the piston 2 or the rod 2a.' l

If the regulator should be subjected to great changes in temperature, it is apparent that the value of vthe fluid confined in tlie chamber Ib would vary accordingly. The equalizing or oating piston 26 will rise' when this uid expands and will descend when it contracts; thereby maintaining a constant value of the, fluid discharged into the line I9, regardless of temperature changes to which the regulator may be sub je'c'ted.'

Manifestly, the regulator maybe quickly ac.- ju'sted to discharge huid of any desired value by @hangin-ette pressure within the isolated Chamber' Ibl It will be understood that a single or multiple diaphragm may be secured within the cylinder 4 as a full equivalent of the piston shown and that either form of diaphragm may be employed to actuate the rod 2d.

IniFig. 6. iiiustratin'g the first Ymediiiedeen# Y struction, the equaliaing means for preventing temperature changes vfrom affecting the dis-` charge'pres'suie is omitted and the piston Inovements are controlled entirely by pressure obtaining within the device.

Members 'bearing the same reference' characters in Figs.' land 6 will Ibe understood as being of .similar form and purpose.

The sections 3*'-3 and 4;4' in Fig. 6 are primed lto distinguish them from the very similar sctions33'and4-'4 in Fig. 1. y

The vsl'1`e1l`40 has the' low pressure chamber 40a communicating between the low pressure passage I7' and the upper end of the piston 42. This piston i'sslidable through the U cups 5, the retainer' ring 8i and in the axial bore IIa'4 of the cylinder Ms is'the-similar piston in Fig.,1.- The depending rod-like extension 42dof-the piston 42. is slidablefthrough theU cu-ps IDand the members 9 and '24, the two sets of U cups being to prevent leakage into or out of the isolated chamber 4Gb which may be supplied with pressure huid through the valve 38 and the nipple 39. v

JThe liner 43j which maybe a fine grained metalhaving a polished'in'ner surface conforming to the valve 45 and lateral openingsregisterin'g with the"passages Ih and Iy, may be 'pressed -in` shown.

` that in operation the devices illustra a and 8 will function in any position.

of the invention will be i description;

. of the statedobjects and append i'l'he'sleeve` 46;` loosely received over thelower 'endffoft the `extension 42a and f landed upon a" shoulder thereon",` has an upper flange having sorneclearance with the valve 45 which is secured over thesleeve by the nut 41 upon the loweriend of the extension 42a,A the washer 48 beingiengaged between the sleeve and nut. This `valve has a nat surface 45o. which has slight clearance with the endof the screw`49iin order-to prevent rotation ofthe valveand constantly maintain it 1in position-to `close the passage la' when the piston is forced'downward. `The screw `49ihaving threadedfengagement `through the shell 40, may be lockedin proper position .by the nutiSl; a a "'Iheboss 40e ofthe shell `4i) is closedyby the dependingplug`44`.` The plug 4|, which closes the upper end of the shell 40, has a landing post 4 la to arrest the upward movement of thepiston1 when thevalve 45 isgopen as in Fig. (L

` p Operation; Fig. 6 a 4 The isolated chamber 40h should be charged withpressure iluid of Somewhat lessvalue than` that tobeY discharged into the line I9. .Pressure acting upon the upper end of the piston 42 is opposed byhigh pressure frointhe line I3 `and by the isolated pressure fluid in the chamber 4Gb. If the high pressure inthe line l8should varyy greatly, obviously such variations will prevent exact predetermination of the `reduced pressure in the line i9.` This fact prevents the device illus#` trated in Fig'. 6`from providing the same degree of accuracy obtainablewith the device illustrated insign." y

ln"Fig. 8, illustrating'a second modifiedfcon.` i struction, the'mechanism is thesame as in Fig. 6

above thoiine 4' "4",the sheiinsl in Fig. a .being regarded asa do 40 inFig. 6.

wnward continuation of the shell fi `It willbe notedthat the passages `52"`anol1 53 areoiset and that the valve' 45 is normallyclosed overthe passage 53 which becomes thelow pressure fluid` discharge conduit, while the passage 52 transmits the high pressure fluid which thus sou-f tacts the upper endof the'piston. p

Pressure fluid of somewhat less valuethan that supplied to the passage 52"` and the chamber Bla is conned within the isolated chamber Sib.

p a Operation, Fig. 8 a p l The high pressure actingupon the piston` (see Fig. 6)` is partially neutralized by therhigh"V pressure acting underthe extension 42a. The

diicrencebetween theseforces develops the power which moves the piston .downward against the pressure fluid in thel chamber Ib.

It will be understoodthat references to directions in this specification refer tothe deviceA as positioned in the drawings, it being understood ted iurigs. c

Fig. 9 isa view similar to Fig. 1 but combining the pressure regulator of Figs. 1 and 6. withthe p structure of Fig. 8. Those partsinFig. 9 which are like those in Figs. 1,6 `and 8` bear the same` reference characters. VThe operation of this form clear without further It is apparent that many minor changes can equivalents can ibe substituted for parts shown; andIreserve the right to make such changes and substitutions within, the scope and purpose ed claims.

l i contemplate that the ..1 p other 'aandvarious uses. i i

lll` a i inglan intakeand `a discharge passage; a liner `l Where introductoryexpressions and functional' statements are employed in the claims to follow; it willbe understood that suchuexpressions` and i statenfients` relateito theibest presently known modeof applying the invention; andare not to be regarded aslimitations uponthe claims,` which tIclaim: i i: f1. In a pressure regulator: an outershell havin` saidshell, said liner having openings registeringwith said passages; `a low pressure chamber in said shell,isaid chamber having communica- 'ti'nf with said discharge passage; f an isolated chamber xwithin said'fshell; an `innerI chamber lated chamber; an inner? 4shellwithin said .outer` shell; lacylinderwithinisaidjinner shell and her-I metically sealed therewith; 'a ipiston withinsa'id 1 cylinder and` 'slidable hermetically therein; `a valvecarrierirod on said piston; avalve on said rod,` saidv valve being slidableiin said liner and arranged `to close said dischargepassage at a i predetermined-fluid force within said low pressure chamber;` means exposing one end of .said

rod to atmospheric Ipressure; afpressure euualiz"` i `in'said auxiliary chamberjand means to adjust the forcezonf'said equalizing piston toy maintain a1 constant pressure withinsaid` auxiliaryjchamiber."

\ 2. 1u a pressure regulator; shooter shouhaiing intake and dischargepassages and a lowpresy sure chamberpsaid chamber having communication with said discharge passage, said shell also having an" isolated chamber and an inner chamben said inner chamber having" communication with saidisolated chamber; an inner shell within said outer `shella` cylinder withinsaid `inner `shelland` hermetically 'sealed therewith; a piston within* said cylinder "and slidabl` hermetically therein avalve carrierrod connected to said pis-.. tori;` `a valveon saidrodysaid valve being slidable in saidlouter shell "andadapted to `cl'ose said discharge passage .at af predetermined-` fluid force within said low Ipressure chamber means expos-` i ingone endof `said rod to atmospherie pressure:

a pressure equalizingfcylinder upon said outer shell an `auxiliaryA chamber therein; .an equalizing piston slidable in lsaidjauxiliary chamber; .and

means to adjustethefforce on said equalizing pis- 3 ton to maintain aconstant pressure within said auxiliary chamber: a a p 3. As a pressure regulator: a shell arranged to be connected into a conduit for fluid under pressure, said shell havingia passage therethrough and `a chamber "therein, said chamber being charged with compressedgas of a desired pressure; a piston in said shell,.cne end of saidpiston beingin contact with said com-pressed gas and having an extension; a second chamber in said shell,"s`aid second chamberproviding communication between said passage and the other end of said piston; a valve connected tosaidextension i of thepiston, said: valvefbeingarrangedto open and close said passage; means exposing said ex-` tension to `atmospheric pressure; means control-` lingfthe gas pressurelwithin said rst chamber" i and constant weigh I pressure.

t means controlling said gas 4. In a pressure regulator: an outer shell having connections for a high pressure intake line and a, low pressure dischargeline, said shell havinventionlwill be applied` to ing an intake anda discharge passage therein,

`said last passage being in oiset `relation to said slidable in said liner and. arranged to close said discharge passage at a predetermined fluid pressure within said high `pressure chamber; apressure equalizing cylinder upon said outer shell, said cylinder having an auxiliary chamber therein; an equalizing piston slidable in said auxiliary chamber; and means to force saidequalizing piston tovmaintain a substantially constant pressure within said auxiliary chamber.

5. In a pressure regulator: an outer shell having a high pressure chamber, a low pressure chamber, and an auxiliary chamber, which auxiliary chamber is out of communication with said high pressure chamber and said low pressure chamber; an inner shell provided with two piston slideways in axial alignment; a valve carrier rod; two pistons mounted in spaced relation on said rod, o-ne of said piston-s constituting'a slide valve, one end of the other piston being in communication with said low pressure chamber and the other end of said other piston being in communication with said auxiliary chamber, said high pressure chamber and said W pressure chamber having communicating ports controlled by said slide valve; means for sealing off the first piston from said auxiliary chamber; a iiuid in said auxiliary chamber; and means forapplying a `constant force to the uid in said auxiliary chamber. I n y 6. In a pressure regulator: an outer shell having a high pressure chamber, a 10W pressure chamber, and an auxiliary chamber, which auxiliary chamber is out of communication with said high pressure chamber and said low pressure chamber; an inner shell provided with twopiston slideways in axial alignment; a valve carrier rod, one end of which is exposed to atmosphere; two pistons mounted in spaced relation on said rod, one of said pistons constituting a slide valve, one end of theother piston being in communication with said low pressure chamberand the other end of said 'other piston being in communication with said auxiliary chamber said high pressure chamber and said low pressure chamber having communicating ports controlled by said slide valve;V means for sealing 01TY the first piston from said auxiliary chamber; a fluid in said vauxiliary chamber;` and means Vfor applying a constant .force to the fluid in said auxiliary chamber,

communication with said low pressure chamber and the other end of said other piston being in communication with said auxiliary chamber;

means for sealing off the first piston vfrom said auxiliary chamber; a iiuid in said auxiliary chamber; and means for applying a constant force to the iiuid in said auxiliary chamber, said last named means including a Vpressure equalizing cylinder, an equalizing piston in said cylinder,` and an adjustable force applying means operatively connected to said equalizing piston.

8. In a pressure regulator:` anv integral body comprising an outer shell having a high pressure chamber, a low pressure chamber, and an auxiliary chamber, which auxiliary chamber is out of communication with said high pressure chamber and said low pressure chamber, said high pressure chamber and said low pressure chamber having communicating ports, said integral body alsohav-v ing a longitudinal passage; a cylinder removably secured in said longitudinal passage and having an axial bore; a liner held in said longitudinal passage and spaced from said cylinder; a valve carrier rod; a piston on said rod and operating in said axial bore; a piston valve on said rodhavinga loose sliding t in said liner and'controlling the communicating ports of said high pressure chamber and said low pressure chamber; a `cup retainer assembly secured in said passage between said liner and said cylinder and spaced from said cylinder, the space between said cylinder and said retainer assemblybeing in communication with said auxiliary chamber; and means to establish a pressure of a constant value in said auxiliary chamber. V

ALEXANDER BOYNTON 

